Page 187 of Stranger to Love

I let a dark, knowing smirk spread across my lips, my nose brushing against hers. "Alex, I am a woman with a pulse. I am allowed to find other women enticing, just as you are. Finding someone aesthetically pleasing is a far cry from acting on it. My loyalty is absolute, but I am not going to apologise for having eyes. Were you asking me to?"

"No! No, of course not," she shook her head against the wall. "That would be hypocritical. It’s totally normal to... you know, notice people."

The trap snapped shut.

"So," I purred, tilting my head to look down her nose. "You find other women attractive? Is that what you were telling me, princess?"

Her brain hit a spectacular brick wall. "Wait—no. I mean, yes, but—not like— I... I just meant in general," she stammered, her face turning a magnificent shade of crimson. "Like, as a concept. Not that I’m looking."

I released one of her wrists, my fingers sliding down to grip her jaw firmly, forcing her to maintain absolute eye contact. My thumb slowly traced the swell of her lower lip. "Is that so? Because a moment ago, you were very concerned about my 'appreciation for aesthetics.' Perhaps we should discuss who else has been catching your eye while you’re supposed to be focusing on your coursework."

"Nobody," she breathed, completely conquered. "There’s nobody else, Carrie. I swear."

"Good," I whispered, my gaze dropping to her mouth. "Because I don't share my toys, Alex. And I certainly don't like it when they get distracted."

"I know," she whimpered, leaning helplessly into my hand. "I know you don't share. I promise, you don't ever have to share anything. I’m yours.”

Satisfied, I slowly released her wrists, letting my hands rest heavily on her waist to pull her flush against my wine-coloured dress.

"Good. Because while I might appreciate a fine silhouette from a distance, I am far more interested in the girl currently trembling in my hallway. The one who thinks she can interrogate me and get away with it." I leaned down, pressing my lips to the sensitive skin just below her ear, listening to her breath hitch. "I think you’ve had quite enough excitement for one afternoon, Alex. Between playing the hero in the car park and playing the brat in the car, you’ve worked up quite a debt. Go upstairs. Get out of those jeans and wait for me in the bedroom. I need to make one phone call regarding Mr. Hubbard, and then I am going to remind you exactly why you don’t need to worry about anyone else."

She nodded quickly and turned for the stairs.

"Alex?" I called out. She stopped on the first step, clutching the banister and looking back at me. I stood in the centre of the hallway, letting the warmth in my chest show completely. "I love you."

Her expression softened into something so beautiful it made my chest ache. "I love you too," she breathed, before disappearing upstairs.

After a brief, thoroughly satisfying phone call to the Dean that effectively ended Mr. Hubbard's academic career, I walked into the bedroom.

Alex was sitting on the edge of the mattress, having folded her jeans with an uncharacteristic, nervous neatness. She was wearing nothing but her knickers, a vest, and her button-down shirt hanging completely open.

"You are so literal sometimes, darling," I mused, leaning against the doorframe with a fond smile.

"Well, you only ordered me to take the jeans off," she smirked shyly. "I’m a very obedient student, Dr. Carter."

I let out a low hum of amusement, reaching up to unclip my hair. I shook my head, letting the dark waves spill over my shoulders, entirely aware of how intently she tracked the movement.

"You are really so beautiful, Caroline," she said, her voice raw, stripped of all its usual bravado.

My hands paused in my hair. A sudden, unexpected warmth rushed up my neck, a faint blush that I rarely permitted anyone to see. But Alex wasn't just anyone.

I crossed the room and sank onto my knees on the floor directly between her thighs, looking up into her beautiful face. I combed my fingers gently through her hair, smoothing the stray strands away from her forehead.

"Well," I began softly. "Before we had such an... eventful end to the day, I had wanted to discuss the end of your first year at university, my darling. I think it’s about time we went out to dinner. A proper celebration. We could bring your parents along, too, if you’d like? My treat, of course. I want to reward my princess for working so hard this year. You’ve earned it, Alex."

The emotional depth in her eyes flared, and before I could anticipate it, she hooked her fingers into the collar of my dress and pulled me up into a fierce, desperate kiss. My balance shifted, and I crawled further onto the mattress, hovering over her as our lips connected.

"It sounds perfect," she murmured against my mouth. "I would love to. They’d love it."

Every ounce of my academic armour entirely disintegrated. I trailed soft, worshipful kisses down her neck, letting my hair fall like a curtain around us. "I just want to make you happy, Alex," I whispered against her skin. "I want you to have everything."

She placed her hands gently against my chest, pushing me back just enough to lock her deep, expressive eyes onto mine.

"Carrie, seriously. Just you. You make me happy," she said, her voice thick with conviction. "Neither of us had done this before, right? We’d never done the relationship thing. I know I hadn't—I never even wanted to. But when I met you, it was like my body recognised you before my mind could even catch up. It just knew I was meant to be with you. The universe was pulling us together."

She let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "Seriously, you appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the night while I was dragging a very drunk Holly home. I didn't know who you were then. I didn't know you had money, or that you were this incredibly powerful woman people were intimidated by. I just saw the woman I was desperate to make smile. I just wanted to hear you laugh and find any excuse to be alone with you again."

She suddenly looked away, her cheeks burning. "God, I have no idea why I’m being so soppy right now. Do you see what you do to me? I have lost every ounce of my cool. I’m a disaster."